I am a retired Medical Technologist who has a passion for music so much so that when I was in high school I watched The Sound of Music around 14 times and memorized all the songs in that movie. So since I loved music I decided long ago to bring back to my city of Davao in the Philippines- the old Romberg operetta songs and Hollywood movie themes and Spanish songs I used to hear when my parents and family would sing and play them on the piano and violin.\r
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I had the chance to visit my daughter in New York recently. She told me she booked me with Justin Stoney of the New York Vocal Coaching, bless her. I was thinking that maybe they wouldn't accept a 62-year old retiree and also was not a professional singer but the staff was very accommodating and helpful. Kelly the receptionist never failed to inform me if one or the other teachers were free. David, Travis and Julie (she with the voice of an angel). They were all very comfortable to work with each with their own technniques.\r
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When I first entered Justin's studio I had not read about him at all. If I did, maybe I wouldn't have had the nerve to go to him. I did have some sort of training with a voice teacher in the classical genre and I knew I was a coloratura soprano. But nothing prepared me for that UNBELIEVABLE first session with Justin Stoney. There were exercises I never heard of before and he was patient and helpful and fun- I cannot praise him enough! \r
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He told me I had a 3 1/2 vocal range from low Bflat to high F#6. How did he ever get THAT out of me! THAT IS HOW GOOD A VOCAL COACH HE IS!!! Never in my dreams did I know I had that wide a range,,,He had me belting out a Broadway song that first session. I just used to sing either in the low range for the bossas and sambas and the high coloratura kind of songs. Not the middle, I had no volume at all.\r
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I wish I lived in New York so I can go for lessons with Justin and his staff everyday. God bless them they make you feel special and that you CAN! I don't sing professionally, just for myself and friends but after Justin Stoney, I now feel I CAN. \r
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Look him up if you haven't yet. His biography and reviews are VERY EXCELLENT. He loves teaching music, he has the natural gift of giving his all to every student. You can feel it so you do your best for him. \r
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Thank you dear God for the gift of music, for Justin Stoney and for the New York Vocal Coaching people.\r
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Mary Ann Tirol Kimpo\r
Davao City, Philippines\r
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